Bell Tower | Health Education and Human SciencesOctober 15, 2024

Winning Smiles and Gold

The Special Olympics athlete oath states, “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” But before any athlete can make an attempt, health must come first.

In February, 26 students and five faculty from the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith dental hygiene program spent the day in Fayetteville, helping ensure athlete health was a priority. The day was Feb. 2: the Special Olympics Arkansas Winter Games. Members from UAFS’s dental hygiene program were on hand, providing care and information to keep athletes’ smiles healthy and bright.

“The overall atmosphere was fun,” exclaimed Alissa Owens, ’24. “It was fun to be there. It was fun to volunteer. It was fun working with these athletes, who were so happy to be there.”

As part of the Special Olympics’ commitment to well-being, the organization began offering free health screenings and education to athletes as part of the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program, created in 1997. For the better part of a decade, UAFS has gone to the spring games, providing oral health screenings for Special Smiles.

The UAFS contingent provided fluoride treatments, made mouthguards, and informed athletes about oral hygiene and health. According to the Special Olympics website, four out of every 10 athletes have untreated tooth decay, and one to two need urgent dental care.

“It starts with dental literacy and how much you know the importance of dental care and applying it,” said Erica Mimbs, a 2025 dental hygiene grad. “Your dental health has a direct link to your whole body’s health.”

Erica’s was one of the first faces athletes saw when they came to the Special Smiles area. She screened athletes, gathering their names, reviewing medical histories, and determining whether they would be receiving a fluoride treatment or getting a mouthguard for the games.

Erica would hand them off to Makenzie McBride, ’24, who would screen the athletes with a faculty member and assess whether they needed dental care or attention. From McBride, athletes visited Owens, who assisted in making mouthguards and explained the benefits of wearing one.

Like dental patients everywhere, athletes left with a new toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. 

“We got a lot of thank yous, smiles, and laughs,” said Owens. “The athletes weren’t the only ones rewarded.”

Jennifer Avery, the coordinator of wellness and advancement coach for Special Olympics Arkansas and a former UAFS dental hygiene instructor, says close to 90% of athletes received care at the games. She credits volunteers, like the students, alumni, and faculty of UAFS, for such a high turnout.

“Compared to other programs across the nation, our completion rate is very good. We couldn’t do it if we didn’t have volunteers and folks willing and able to do this,” Avery said.

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